We have all been there. We feel ashamed, guilty, with sorrow heavy in your heart. You just want that joy back, that fire in your heart that only God can give.
This prayer reminds us that God is love, He wants to forgive us, He wants to give us that joy in our hearts, He wants to hear our praises.
This is King David's prayer of forgiveness after he sleeps with Bathsheba and sends her husband to the front lines to die. Maybe you haven't done anything that terrible, but all sin breaks us nonetheless. This prayer really meets me at the point of repentance.
Psalms 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.[a]
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,[b]
teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
Earth Hour
Yesterday was Earth Day, and there was this international campaign going around called Earth Hour. The idea was for everybody to turn their lights off for an hour and give the Earth a rest. Check out some of the pictures.
This is Rome before:
This is Rome during Earth Hour:
Hong Kong before:
Hong Kong during Earth Hour:
Malaysia before:
Malaysia during Earth Hour:
New York City before:
New York City during Earth Hour:
I guess NYC didn't really get the memo.
This is Rome before:
This is Rome during Earth Hour:
Hong Kong before:
Hong Kong during Earth Hour:
Malaysia before:
Malaysia during Earth Hour:
New York City before:
New York City during Earth Hour:
I guess NYC didn't really get the memo.
Give Up
I've had a few things laid on my heart this past week, and to be honest with you, I'm not sure how they are connected. So excuse this post if it seems like a jumble of ideas, but I have to share this stuff.
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." -John 3:30
That is one of my girlfriend's favorite verses, and it is a great verse.
It simply states our goal as followers of Christ.
It has to become all about Him.
This simple principle is so hard to live by, for me. It's MY life, MY future, MY plans. It's ironic that I have no trouble trusting God with something as big as eternity, but I struggle to trust Him with my finances, my classes, my job, and my future.
We worry about these things because it's all about us, we're worried about how we're going to handle these problems that life presents.
The truth is, we can't handle everything. We sure try, but it comes out worse than if we would have let God handle it.
You have to keep coming back to John 3:30, "He MUST become more and more, and I MUST become less and less."
This isn't a suggestion.
Look at the language, this is urgent.
The Bible says that when we are weak, He is strong.
Over and over and over again the Bible tells us to let go.
Trust God with all aspects of your life.
Don't let worrying rot you away.
Give it to God.
Let Him become more and more in your life.
I don't know what that means to you, what areas in your life that you're telling God, "I got this."
I know its not an easy thing to do, and you don't want to trust God with certain things because you just don't see how He can fix it.
All I can say is that we also see in the Bible that insight follows obedience.
Most of us want it the other way around.
God, you show me how You are going to help me, and I will give this problem up to you.
God wants us to go out on faith, give up ourselves to Him, our problems and worries, and on the other side of obedience, after you have let God do his thing, we will understand.
"He MUST become more and more, and I MUST become less and less."
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." -John 3:30
That is one of my girlfriend's favorite verses, and it is a great verse.
It simply states our goal as followers of Christ.
It has to become all about Him.
This simple principle is so hard to live by, for me. It's MY life, MY future, MY plans. It's ironic that I have no trouble trusting God with something as big as eternity, but I struggle to trust Him with my finances, my classes, my job, and my future.
We worry about these things because it's all about us, we're worried about how we're going to handle these problems that life presents.
The truth is, we can't handle everything. We sure try, but it comes out worse than if we would have let God handle it.
You have to keep coming back to John 3:30, "He MUST become more and more, and I MUST become less and less."
This isn't a suggestion.
Look at the language, this is urgent.
The Bible says that when we are weak, He is strong.
Over and over and over again the Bible tells us to let go.
Trust God with all aspects of your life.
Don't let worrying rot you away.
Give it to God.
Let Him become more and more in your life.
I don't know what that means to you, what areas in your life that you're telling God, "I got this."
I know its not an easy thing to do, and you don't want to trust God with certain things because you just don't see how He can fix it.
All I can say is that we also see in the Bible that insight follows obedience.
Most of us want it the other way around.
God, you show me how You are going to help me, and I will give this problem up to you.
God wants us to go out on faith, give up ourselves to Him, our problems and worries, and on the other side of obedience, after you have let God do his thing, we will understand.
"He MUST become more and more, and I MUST become less and less."
My Jesus
He died for me.
Paid my eternal debt.
Died so I can truly live.
He died on the cross for you too.
Salvation is calling.
Paid my eternal debt.
Died so I can truly live.
He died on the cross for you too.
Salvation is calling.
The Glory of it All
I bought David Crowder's album Remedy a few months ago. It was one of the best buys I have ever made, it's full of great worship songs, but the one that really clicks with me is "The Glory of if All."
There is one part in that song that says:
"After all is lost,
find Him there.
After night,
dawn is there.
After all
falls apart,
He repairs."
It hits home every time. It constantly reminds me that no matter how many times I screw up, no matter how broken I am, no matter how many times I succumb to sin. He is there, and He is ready to forgive.
We can always go back to God.
If I was a Baptist preacher, I would say that deserves an Amen!
There is one part in that song that says:
"After all is lost,
find Him there.
After night,
dawn is there.
After all
falls apart,
He repairs."
It hits home every time. It constantly reminds me that no matter how many times I screw up, no matter how broken I am, no matter how many times I succumb to sin. He is there, and He is ready to forgive.
We can always go back to God.
If I was a Baptist preacher, I would say that deserves an Amen!
Passion
Many of my friends are really involved in clubs and various extra curricular activities. Most of them are great causes, they feed the hungry, and help the poor.
I always ask myself what drives these people. Sure, there is an innate sense to do good and to make a difference and the friends they have made.
At the core of the issue, I think that these clubs and activities give them a taste of passion. They ignite a spark in their heart that hints at a need they never felt. It gives them a taste of that drive that is within them. That drive that wants to change the world, shake the planet, and save people.
Sure, guilt, and the awareness of people's needs can make you support a cause. But neither of those have the effect of unleashing that passion.
I think the only thing that satisfies that passion, hunger, and drive is Christ. I think that is the calling we all have within us.
Everyone wants to make a difference, we just spend most of our time finding out how.
I feel a burden when I talk to my friends and their causes, I know the causes are good, but Christ's call for our lives is much more.
I think of what these people could accomplish if their hearts were ignited for Christ.
If they were living for the King and armed with the knowledge and message that could truly change the world.
Imagine the difference that would make.
I guess that's my call, to show these kids that Christ is calling them.
To show them that passion that Christ gives.
To help that fire grow and make a Kingdom difference.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need." -Luke 12:31
I always ask myself what drives these people. Sure, there is an innate sense to do good and to make a difference and the friends they have made.
At the core of the issue, I think that these clubs and activities give them a taste of passion. They ignite a spark in their heart that hints at a need they never felt. It gives them a taste of that drive that is within them. That drive that wants to change the world, shake the planet, and save people.
Sure, guilt, and the awareness of people's needs can make you support a cause. But neither of those have the effect of unleashing that passion.
I think the only thing that satisfies that passion, hunger, and drive is Christ. I think that is the calling we all have within us.
Everyone wants to make a difference, we just spend most of our time finding out how.
I feel a burden when I talk to my friends and their causes, I know the causes are good, but Christ's call for our lives is much more.
I think of what these people could accomplish if their hearts were ignited for Christ.
If they were living for the King and armed with the knowledge and message that could truly change the world.
Imagine the difference that would make.
I guess that's my call, to show these kids that Christ is calling them.
To show them that passion that Christ gives.
To help that fire grow and make a Kingdom difference.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need." -Luke 12:31
